To combat rising cases of sexual attacks on women and children in Pakistan, the federal Cabinet has approved in-principle two anti-rape ordinances aimed at handing out exemplary punishment, including chemical castration and hanging, to rapists, according to a media report.

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday also decided to change the definition of rape, the Dawn News reported on Wednesday.

The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 and Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 would be finalised in a week to be promulgated, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said.

The two anti-rape ordinances, approved in principal by the Cabinet, are aimed at handing out exemplary punishment to rapists, including chemical castration and hanging, the report said.

Hailing the "big decision", Faraz said the anti-rape ordinances change the basic definition of rape and suggest severe punishment for gang rape and hanging of rapists.

For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the definition of rape has been changed by incorporating "transgender" and "gang-rape" in it, the report said.

The proposed laws also prohibits the controversial ''two-finger''&nbsp;test performed on rape survivors. The World Health Organisation has already declared the test as ''unscientific, medically unnecessary and unreliable''. Human Rights groups have also termed the test as invasive, disrespectful and a gross violation of a woman's right to dignity and privacy.

Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted, "Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) will now finalise (the ordinances) and it should become operational in next few days. It includes an expansive definition of rape, establishment of special court, anti-rape crisis cell, protection of victims and witnesses and prohibition of two-finger test."

Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry termed the approval of the ordinances a landmark achievement of the government.

He said the ordinances also permitted chemical castration of habitual rapists.

To combat rising cases of sexual attacks on women and children in Pakistan, the federal Cabinet has approved in-principle two anti-rape ordinances aimed at handing out exemplary punishment, including chemical castration and hanging, to rapists, according to a media report.

To combat rising cases of sexual attacks on women and children in Pakistan, the federal Cabinet has approved in-principle two anti-rape ordinances aimed at handing out exemplary punishment, including chemical castration and hanging, to rapists, according to a media report. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on Tuesday also decided to change the definition of rape, the Dawn News reported on Wednesday. The Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance 2020 and Pakistan Penal Code (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 would be finalised in a week to be promulgated, Information Minister Shibli Faraz said. The two anti-rape ordinances, approved in principal by the Cabinet, are aimed at handing out exemplary punishment to rapists, including chemical castration and hanging, the report said. Hailing the "big decision", Faraz said the anti-rape ordinances change the basic definition of rape and suggest severe punishment for gang rape and hanging of rapists. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the definition of rape has been changed by incorporating "transgender" and "gang-rape" in it, the report said. The proposed laws also prohibits the controversial ''two-finger'' test performed on rape survivors. The World Health Organisation has already declared the test as ''unscientific, medically unnecessary and unreliable''. Human Rights groups have also termed the test as invasive, disrespectful and a gross violation of a woman's right to dignity and privacy. Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari tweeted, "Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases (CCLC) will now finalise (the ordinances) and it should become operational in next few days. It includes an expansive definition of rape, establishment of special court, anti-rape crisis cell, protection of victims and witnesses and prohibition of two-finger test." Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry termed the approval of the ordinances a landmark achievement of the government. He said the ordinances also permitted chemical castration of habitual rapists.

Pak Cabinet approves in-principle chemical castration, hanging of rapists

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his government will soon introduce a three-tier legislation providing for registration of sex offenders, exemplary punishment for rape and child abuse and effective policing.

Khan made the announcement while addressing a joint sitting of parliament after passage of a number of Financial Action Task Force-related bills on Wednesday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-parliament-passes-fatf-related-bills-amid-uproar-327983" hreflang="en">Pakistan Parliament passes FATF-related bills amid uproar</a>

"Such incidents ruin the lives of victims and their families also have to suffer," he said.

Khan was referring to the gang-rape of a French-Pakistani woman in front of her three children near a highway in Lahore on September 9 which sparked widespread outrage.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-prime-minister-imran-khan-calls-for-chemical-castration-of-rapists-327593" hreflang="en">Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan calls for 'chemical castration' of rapists</a>

One of the suspects wanted in the case was arrested on Monday arrested and confessed to his crime.

Noting that the main suspect in the gang-rape case was a history-sheeter, Khan said that global data indicated that such criminals were repeat offenders and therefore maintaining their data was important.

He said the legislation being prepared would not only provide for exemplary punishment for rape and child abuse offences, but would also contain provisions for registration of sex offenders and effective policing, the report said.

He admitted that only a very small percentage of such cases were reported to police in the country.

Even after the arrest of offenders in rape and child abuse cases, their conviction is not easy in absence of proper prosecution and concrete evidence. For this reason, the bill being prepared would also provide for witness protection, he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his government will soon introduce a three-tier legislation providing for registration of sex offenders, exemplary punishment for rape and child abuse and effective policing.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his government will soon introduce a three-tier legislation providing for registration of sex offenders, exemplary punishment for rape and child abuse and effective policing. Khan made the announcement while addressing a joint sitting of parliament after passage of a number of Financial Action Task Force-related bills on Wednesday. Also read: Pakistan Parliament passes FATF-related bills amid uproar "Such incidents ruin the lives of victims and their families also have to suffer," he said. Khan was referring to the gang-rape of a French-Pakistani woman in front of her three children near a highway in Lahore on September 9 which sparked widespread outrage. Also read: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan calls for 'chemical castration' of rapists One of the suspects wanted in the case was arrested on Monday arrested and confessed to his crime. Noting that the main suspect in the gang-rape case was a history-sheeter, Khan said that global data indicated that such criminals were repeat offenders and therefore maintaining their data was important. He said the legislation being prepared would not only provide for exemplary punishment for rape and child abuse offences, but would also contain provisions for registration of sex offenders and effective policing, the report said. He admitted that only a very small percentage of such cases were reported to police in the country. Even after the arrest of offenders in rape and child abuse cases, their conviction is not easy in absence of proper prosecution and concrete evidence. For this reason, the bill being prepared would also provide for witness protection, he said.

Pakistan to introduce legislation to curb rape, child abuse: Imran Khan

Pakistan's Prime Minister&nbsp;Imran&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;said on Monday he would like convicted rapists to be publicly executed or chemically castrated, reacting to a question on the rape of a woman on a highway last week that has caused uproar in the South Asian nation.

Last week, a mother of two driving along a major highway near Lahore was dragged out of her car and raped by two men at gunpoint, one of whom was arrested by police on Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-co-accused-in-lahore-motorway-gang-rape-case-surrenders-to-police-327188" hreflang="en">Pakistan: Co-accused in Lahore motorway gang-rape case surrenders to police</a>

"I was shocked to find out from the police that sex crimes in the country are increasing greatly," he said. 
 
"The rapists should be given exemplary punishments. In my opinion, they should be hanged at the chowk (main square)," he said, adding that the punishment should be reserved for rapists and those who abuse children. 
 
However, the Prime Minister highlighted that upon discussing this with the cabinet, it was intimated that such a punishment would not be accepted internationally.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/why-global-terror-financing-watchdog-fatf-should-blacklist-pakistan-327515" hreflang="en">Why global terror financing watchdog FATF should blacklist Pakistan</a> 
 
"Unfortunately, we had a discussion and we were told it would not be internationally acceptable," Khan said, adding that "GSP-Plus trade status given to us by the European Union will be affected." 
 
Khan said that the country needs a fresh legislation to ensure that there is permanent sterilisation of such criminals. 
 
"One other option can be chemically or surgically castrating the rapists, according to the degree of the crime,"" Khan said, adding that many other countries practice the same punishment for rapists.

Khan&nbsp;said he believed the culprits should be hanged publicly, but added that officials had informed him that such an act could endanger a preferential trade status given to Pakistan by the European Union (EU).

The EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP-plus) status, granted to Pakistan in 2014, is contingent upon observation of international conventions, such as human rights.

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However,&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;said he was also looking into the option of chemical castration instead.

"The way there is first degree, second degree, third degree murder, this [rape] should be graded in the same way, and when there is first degree [rape], castrate them. Operate on them and make them unable to do this,"&nbsp;Khan&nbsp;said in an interview on a Pakistan news channel.

Khan's remarks came as Pakistani officials announced that one of the two main suspects in the motorway rape case had been arrested and had admitted to the crime. Officials said they also had a positive DNA match. The search for the second suspect is still ongoing.

Police retrieved DNA samples from the site, and used GPS data from cellular phone networks to identify individuals who were at the site when the attack occurred.

The shocking assault sparked nationwide protests and calls for the resignation of officials as well as the public hanging of rapists in Pakistan.

This February, lawmakers introduced legislation for the public hanging of those convicted of sexual abuse and the murder of children, but the law was not passed.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday he would like convicted rapists to be publicly executed or chemically castrated, reacting to a question on the rape of a woman on a highway last week that has caused uproar in the South Asian nation.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday he would like convicted rapists to be publicly executed or chemically castrated, reacting to a question on the rape of a woman on a highway last week that has caused uproar in the South Asian nation. Last week, a mother of two driving along a major highway near Lahore was dragged out of her car and raped by two men at gunpoint, one of whom was arrested by police on Monday. Also read: Pakistan: Co-accused in Lahore motorway gang-rape case surrenders to police "I was shocked to find out from the police that sex crimes in the country are increasing greatly," he said. "The rapists should be given exemplary punishments. In my opinion, they should be hanged at the chowk (main square)," he said, adding that the punishment should be reserved for rapists and those who abuse children. However, the Prime Minister highlighted that upon discussing this with the cabinet, it was intimated that such a punishment would not be accepted internationally. Also read: Why global terror financing watchdog FATF should blacklist Pakistan "Unfortunately, we had a discussion and we were told it would not be internationally acceptable," Khan said, adding that "GSP-Plus trade status given to us by the European Union will be affected." Khan said that the country needs a fresh legislation to ensure that there is permanent sterilisation of such criminals. "One other option can be chemically or surgically castrating the rapists, according to the degree of the crime,"" Khan said, adding that many other countries practice the same punishment for rapists. Khan said he believed the culprits should be hanged publicly, but added that officials had informed him that such an act could endanger a preferential trade status given to Pakistan by the European Union (EU). The EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP-plus) status, granted to Pakistan in 2014, is contingent upon observation of international conventions, such as human rights. × However, Khan said he was also looking into the option of chemical castration instead. "The way there is first degree, second degree, third degree murder, this [rape] should be graded in the same way, and when there is first degree [rape], castrate them. Operate on them and make them unable to do this," Khan said in an interview on a Pakistan news channel. Khan's remarks came as Pakistani officials announced that one of the two main suspects in the motorway rape case had been arrested and had admitted to the crime. Officials said they also had a positive DNA match. The search for the second suspect is still ongoing. Police retrieved DNA samples from the site, and used GPS data from cellular phone networks to identify individuals who were at the site when the attack occurred. The shocking assault sparked nationwide protests and calls for the resignation of officials as well as the public hanging of rapists in Pakistan. This February, lawmakers introduced legislation for the public hanging of those convicted of sexual abuse and the murder of children, but the law was not passed.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan calls for 'chemical castration' of rapists